Long Island Tunnel rail project could cost $100 billion, and some say the time is now to strike

A high-speed rail tunnel would cost at least $100 billion.

Infrastructure Ontario

Now that the Biden administration has suggested it is all in regarding improving rail infrastructure, the projects are rolling in.

The idea of a high-speed rail tunnel that would connect New York and Boston is re-emerging as a possibility. Officials first talked about the tunnel, which would be 16 miles long under the Long Island Sound, decades ago, and some believe now may be the last chance to execute such a project.

A North Atlantic Rail plan has been developed at the University of Pennsylvania and calls for improving existing lines and building new infrastructure, including the tunnel. The high-speed rail line would handle speeds over 200 mph to cut the travel time between Boston and New York to just 1.5 hours.

The 20-year project is expected to cost over $100 billion, and it just might fit into the Biden administration’s plan of spending $2 trillion on clean energy infrastructure.

There are opponents to the plan. Sen. Richard Blumenthal (D-Conn.) believes the focus should be on the Hudson Tunnel in New York and the existing tracks. He also is concerned about the environmental effects of a massive tunnel construction project.

However, Robert Yaro, who developed the latest model at the University of Pennsylvania, says the tunnel would be placed 100 ft below the surface to minimize the effects to the environment.

Steps can be worked on now that would lead up to the grand finale of building a tunnel under the Long Island Sound, like improving the New Haven line and the construction of rail service connecting Springfield and Boston.

Read more articles on rail tunnels.